Flexible seat folding chair



' Sept. 1,1931. I W.G.'GROS$/MAN 1,821,704

rnsxmm ssu FOLDING can:

Filed Jan. 22, 1929 INVENTOR 5 07am amssm/u 2d Z5 Z6 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1, 1931 cur ent wartaeir eras s Lu, PLAINS, new YGRK rnnxrni'lrsnsr rorcnrue cream implication filed January 22', 1929. Serial No. 334,170.

in flexible. seat folding chairs, the seat communly consists of suitable textile fabric such as caux 'asor. carpet material. This in rcntien relates more particularlyito that part of the construction bywhichthe front end of thefl-xible seat is" secured to the frame of the chair.

A broad or generalobject of theinvention is to provide an improved front construction. A more particular object of the invention is convenienceinremoving and replacing the flexible seat for its renewal; In this connection, other objects are durability, strength, comfort to .the user, a handsome appearance, simplicity ofconstruction, convenience of manufacture, I and economy. Qther objects and advantages ofrthe invention will hereinafter appear. I

T he invention includes various featuresof in) construction and combinations of parts, as will appear fronrthe following description. In car" -ng'out theinvention the front end portion of the flQEIlblG seat passes over :1 rather large rounded.frontbar and' at its 1 ,teral edge marginspasses over the rounded upper'fron ends of lateral leg men1bers,the front edge margin ofthe seat being1 tapered in width to'pass downwardly andrearwardly partially around the ban between'the leg members. This tapered end of-the seat'iis folded over upon itself. to the inside and sewed downby alline of stitcl1ing,;so as to leave a free flap and to provide a-closed loop forming a passageway for a straight removable anchor rod the ends of which extend 'nto holes through theleg members, this rod in a reenforcing groove in'the' adjacent side of the front bar. The flexible seat a't -jits f1 nt end has no other connection excepting its anchor rod, and'thisanchor rod'has no c leg members, so that thereby the front end of the flexible seat may be readily detached m r ly by pushing out ,tlierod, and may be adily replaced a reverse operation.

One embodiment .of the invention, which is illustrated the accompanying drawings,

now be described andthereafter the in- 5o Yention will be pointed out in claims, refer- -fro'nt bar 2'is reduced and shouldered at its ends to form round tenons 3 whlch are more a On itslower and rear side in line with .ner connec on excepting at lts ends with could as well be of a more or less different ence now being had to the drawings, in which: a

, 1 is a perspective view of a flexible seat folding chair in which the invention is embodied I 2 is an enlarged partial central vertical section from front to rear;

tion will now be particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

- The frame of the folding chair shown 1n the drawings includes a pair of leg members 1 which in the unfolded condition of use of the chair shown incline downwardly and rearwardly from their upper front ends at an angle of about 45. A large round upper tiscd into the leg members 1. A rivet 4 passes through each of the leg members 1 gether. 'Obviouslyflthe tenons 3 may be further held in place by means of glue or other, suitable adhesive if desired The upper ends of the leg-members l are circularly rounded flush with the circularly rounded surface'of the front bar 2, so that the ends of these leg members form an outward continuation of the rounded surface of the bill 12.

the leg: members 1, the otherwise circularly rounded or cylindrical front bar 2 is provided longitudinally thereof throughout its length ,between the leg members 1 with a J straight channel or grove 5 of uniform depth and width throughout. This channel or groove 5 is shown as'of rectangular shape, but as will presently more clearly appear, 1t

other part.

contour or cross-sectional shape. A round hole (5 is provided through each of the leg members 1 in line With the groove 5 at its middle and outer portion, these holes 6 being of smaller cross-section or size than the groove 5. A straight rather rigid or stiff anchor rod '1 projects at its opposite; ends into the respective holes 61 rodslith'ns lies in the groove 5 throughout the length of the latter, but this rod is free and is out of contact with or spacedfa'om the bottom and side walls of the groove 5. The end portions of this rod 7 have a snug but removable drive it in the holes 6 so that this rod may be readily removed and as readily replaced fronrthe outer side of either. one of the leg members 1.

The chair has a flexible textile.- fabric seat 8, which in the particularfolding chair shown in the drawings is composedfioft carpet ma t'eri'al of considerable thickness, as indicated. in the drawings; The lateral edges of the seat 8' are shown. asprovided with a b nding 9 which may be ordinary suitable ta-pefolded over the edges of the seat and stitched or sewed thereto as indicated; this binding 9 serving both. to protect and to strengthen the edges of the seat 8;

Beforethe binding 9 is applied, both lateral edges of the seat 8 adja'cent to its for- Ward end are trimmed or cut toprovide a tapering front end portion along the lines 10. The tapered front margin of the: seat 8- is reversely folded overi-ipen i tsel f to the inside and at an intermediate point of this fold it is sewed tothe adjacent portion of the seat 8'by a line of-stitchingl l 'to form a termii-ial l'oop' 12 which provides a: flexible tubular passageway. Thisl ine of stitching llalso provides a free reversel-y extending marginal end flap 13 which projects along the inner surface of the seat 8 from the line of stitching 11. Instead of the stitching 11, other suitable securing meansmight be employed, such for example as arrow of clinched wire staples, although the stitched seanr 11 has proved entirely satisfactory for the purpose.

The removable anchor rod 'Zfer the front a end-of the seat 8 passes freely from end to end through the tubular passageway formed by the terminal loop 12, and itshou l d -he noted that the seat 8 as its forward end; is com-iected only to this anchor rod '1, having no connection to any other part, and: that the anchor rod 7' is connected only to the leg members 1, Without any connection to any In order to provide a neat-outer finish the outer end of each of the holes (i is covered by the large fl-at head ofa' small nail or tack 14 driven into the leg i-nemb'er I, these large headed small nail-s being readily removed when it is desired to remove the seatholding rod 7.

By reason of the taper at on the forward end of the seat 8, the main portion of this seat which extends rearwardly from the top of the front bar or seat'bar 2 will be of the full width of the front frame part of the chair from side to side between the outer surfaces of the leg members 1, as shown 1n the data-wingsand as. will, hereadily understood; dice covering; ot: theupper ends oflthese leg members by the side margins of the seat 8 not only provides a Wider and a more comfortable seatbut gives a neater appearance,,.and. at the same time the taper at 10' provides for the anchoring of the front end of the seat.-.8i to the anchor rod 7 between the inner surfaces of the leg members 1, as abeveiclescnihedi Thmlargea size of the front bar.- 2 of ceu-rse .adds to the; strength of the fDfl-lllfiWOBkFOf'tllQiChfilIt. However, the large diameter ohthzisi romml' frontlbar 2, coupled writhaitscarpet.eoazerings 8',rbyreason=of which rampart-of thishar i'svisib'le not only presents a handsome appearance but. contributes lmgely'ste the comfont: of; the occupant, of thecltmin.

The puazpose the. groove 5. in the; seathair 2 is: to rcerrfonce: the seat-holding anchor red 1.2a theistr'etched seat8iis subjected twthmweight of: a; rathert heavy" person, the rod? 7? will] spacing" slightly whereupon the surrmmdiingportioni of." the: seat covering, comprised in: the folded over portion of11ts terminal loopr lflgzwilsli be; pressed along the middle portion ozliithea'rorhagainstthe abrupt tormrrd ottthe'r-grooxe 51,. so; that; thereby themed??? wil'lzhe reenzftbrced through. the: intermediary'osfi'thiszseat covering afteronly' a very slightispringi ng ofv tlIQrL'OdZ which is. negligible fin' alzl'pcactieml purposes Without this reenter-sing grooved with a: rodZ of In SimeSHflhl' as shown, the heawy person on the seat- 8 might distort the sham oi 'thei seat uncomfortably and might even producer anp'ermament bend irrthe rod,

reason: of which of course the distortion ot 'ifihe'seot Siwould become-(permanent, Thus the seatwomld be no; longer smooth and'even but: wmdrd sagged and wrinkled, therebyideti-iactingfroirr its: appearance, as welhasftomzthe comfortot. an occupant. It

should obvious. that by employing an then unbroken outer surface of an ungrooved front'hair otherwise similar to the front bar 2, as will be readily understood.

It should also-be noted that When the weight a person is applied to the seat 8, their the freely projecting flap 13 will be weight. of a 1 iii) gether with the abrupt corner formed by the groove itself and the extensive continuously rounded lower and forward surface of the bar 2 against which the seat 8 binds, will create a strong frictional resistance which will have a holding effect upon the seat and will relieve the strain upon the anchor rod 7 to a considerable extent. In thesame way and even'to a further extent, the seam or line of stitching 11 is relieved from pulling strain thereon. However, it seems obvious that this stitching 11 or some equivalent securing means could not be safely dispensed with altogether'for holding the seat 8 with the weight of a person thereon. Furthermore, when the chair is folded, then the loop 12 formed by the stitching llprevents the end of the loose seat from becoming disengaged from the anchor rod 7.

For detaching the front end of the flexible seat 8 from the chair frame when this seat becomes sufficientlv worn that it should be renewed, an ordinary punch or similar tool may be used for initiating the removal of the anchor rod 7, which after it has been thus started may be readily pulled out from its outer end or pushed out from its inner end. It is unnecessary of course to pull this rod all of the way out, since it is obvious that after it has been moved endwise only enough to provide'a convenient space between its inner end and the leg member 1. from which its end has been removed, then the flexible seat 8, the terminal passageway or loop 12 of which is also flexible, may-be readily slipped off over the free inner end of the rod 7. A new seat 8 may be installed by reversing the operation, the inner end of the anchor rod 7 being pushed or driven from its outer end into the hole 6, inthe leg 111811113611 from which it had. previously been pushed or punched out. i

For conveniently performing this opera-- tion of replacing or renewing the flexible eat 8, the holding frame of the chair'may be maintained in such a position that the flexible seat will be loose and easily" manipulated, as will be readily understood. For example, and as will hereinafter more clearly appear, the seat 8 may extendaway from the front'bar 2, without being wound partly around this bar, as it is when the chair is in its unfolded condition of use, as 1:; shown in Figs. 1 e04 inclusive. f r

The remaining parts and'features oflthe complete practically operable folding chair illustrated 111 the drawings in WlllClltllQ prcsv ent inventionis shown as incorporated'or embodied, are of a usual commercial construction, such as heretofore manufactured by me without the above de' cribed improvement which has been. effected bythe present to provide a free pivotal movement. lower forward ends of the outer leg members,

invention. In this connection it will be readily realized that this'lnvention could be embodied in a chair which in other respects might be considerably varied or different in the construction of its general framework from the chair shown in the drawings, it being only necessary of course that the chair as a whole should be so constructed as to cooperate effectively in a practical and workable manner with the present invention, substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the drawings. For a better understanding of the invention as carriedout in a practical comnfiercial folding chair construction, the remaining features of the chair shown in the drawings will now be briefly described.

The lower rear end portions of the leg members 1 are firmly and rigidly connected together by means of a usual rung 15, thereby forming with these leg members and the front bar 2 a rigid rectangular frame part. A pair of outer leg members 16 are arranged in a usual oppositely inclined X formation with-the inner leg members 1. Each outer outer leg member 16 is pivotally connected to the adjacent inner leg member 1 by means of a rivet 1. a washer (not shown) being interposed between these leg members to pre vent their chafing by'rubbing together and 16 are substantially in vertical alignment with the forward edge of the seat 8 Where it passes down and aroundat the front of the front bar 2. The lower portion of the leg iembers l and 16 below their pivot 17 are made of the same length so that thereby the lower ends of the leg members 1 and 16 will come even with each other in their folded condition,Fig.

somewhat deceptive in this respect.

The lateral edges of the horizontally stretched seat'8 pass immediately between and close to the inner surfacesof the inclined outer leg members 16, which eXtendfor some distance upwardly and rearwardly beyond the rear end portion of the seat 8.' A back frame has main frame member 18 which is bent to the form of aninverted U, the straight side bars of which extend at a slight inclination downwardly adjacent to the inner sides of and thence beyond the upper ends of the outer legmemberslfi. At the point where each of theside bars'of this back frame member 18 crosses the adjacent outer leg member 16, it is pivotally connected thereto 'by means of a rivet 19, with one or more interposed washers 20 (Fig. 4); A comfortable back rest 21 isprovided at the top of the frame member 18' carry a rear cross bar23,

This'rear' bar 23 is halfround or semi-circu- The- 1 of the drawings, by reason of its being a true perspective, being lar in cross-section with its rounded side at the front, providlng a flat vertical surface at the back, and has its upper edge surface substantially in horizontal alignment with the rounded'top surface of the front bar 2. T he rear end portion of the seat 8 extends over the top of the rear bar 28 and the end margin ofv this seat bends over at a right angle and extends downward on the rear flat face of the bar 23 throughout the width of the latter, the end of this margin being flush or substantially so with the lower edge of the bar 23. It will be noted that this rear downwardly bent rear end margin of the seat 8 is of substantially the full width of the adjacent horizontal portion of the seat 8, the edges of which come close to the inner sides of the outer leg members 16.

The lower ends of the side bars of the back frame member 18 on their front side are notched slightly over and vertically across the full width of the rear vertical face of the cross bar 23 and at each side is rigidly 'and firmly secured to this cross bar by means of a rivet 24 which passes also through the interposed end margin of the seat 8, as indicated in Fig. 4. The ends of this rear cross bar 23 project beyond the outer sides of the back f 'ame member 18 so as to abut against the inclined rear surfaces of the outer leg members 16, and the rear corners of these projecting ends of the bar 23 may be removed toprovide asloping or beveled surface and rounded ends, as shown in Fig. 4. The down turned rear end margin of the seat 8 is further firmly secured to the rear cross bar 23 by means of a rear clamping strip 25 and a series of screws 26 which pass forwardly through the clamping strip 25 and the inter-- posed margin of the seat 8 and are screwed into the rear frame bar 23. The clamping strip 25 is of a length to fill the space between the inner sides of the notched lower ends of the side bars of the back member 18.

In effecting a renewal of the seat 8, the screws 26 together with the clampingstrip 25 are of course readily removable. Also the end rivets 24 may be easily removed by any ordinary mechanic, as is well known. It is obvious, of course, that if so desired, bolts could be employed instead of rivets 24, but it has been found in practice that the rivets 24- providea firmer and more rigid connection.

In the set up or unfolded condition of use of the chair as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, it will be noted that the flexible seat 8 will be maintained in a stretched condition between the top of the front bar 2 and the top of the rear bar 23, and at the same time the back frame, including its frame member 18, will be supported in an upright and slightly rearwardly in clined comfortable position, as shown in each instance in Figs. 1 and 2. The manner in which this chair may be folded into a substantially fiat condition is so obvious from the drawings, as well known for this general type of folding chair, that it is believed to be entirely unnecessary either particularly to illustrate it or to describe it.

In effecting the removal of the flexible seat 8 for its renewal, this seat may be disconnected first at its front end from the anchor rod 7 as hereinbefore described, or it may be first disconnected at its rear end fromthe rear bar 23, as above described. In doing this, of course the chair may be placed in any convenient position both bodily and with reference to its pivoted frame. F or example, if the front end of this seat 8 is to be disconnected first, then the pairs of pivoted leg members may be moved to a reversely crossed position, for thereby unwinding the seat 8 from around the front bar 2, as will be readily understood. On the other hand, should the rear end of the seat be disconnected first, then the seat may be unwound from around the front bar 2, so as then to hang loosely from the anchor rod 7, as will be clear from the drawings.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the folding chair construction shown in the drawings as an embodiment of the invention and above particularly described, within the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flexible seat folding chair, the combination of a pair of leg members having upper ends at the front of the chair, a rigid front seat bar permanently and firmly secured to the upper ends of these leg members and having therein a groove running along its lower side between the leg members, a straight rod free in the groove and removably supported at its ends in holes through the leg members, and a flexible seat having a closed loop which removably receives the rod and from which the seat passes upwardly around the front side of the seat bar and thence rearwardly.

2. In a flexible seat folding chair, the combination of a pair of leg members having upper ends at the front of the chair, a rigid front seat bar permanently and firmly secured to the upper ends of these leg members and having therein a groove running throughout its length along its lower side, a straight rod free in the groove and removably supported at its ends by the leg members, and a. flexible seat having aclosed loop which removably receives the rod and from which the seat passes upwardly around the front side of the seat bar and thence rearwardly.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

WALLACE G. GROSSMAN. 

